Title: A Spark in the Dark

Author: Luinëturiel (aka Zoe)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Lord of the Rings. They belong to the wonderful J.R.R. Tolkien. Any other characters in this story, however, are mine.

Many thanks go out to Miss2Pouty for letting me know that she liked the first two chapters. :o)
Anyone else out there who's reading this story? I'd like to know what you think of it – if you love it, hate it, if it bores you to death, whatever... You can even flame me, if you like – I'm a bit cold at the moment anyway...lol Err...no, ignore that last remark! Come to think of it, I'd prefer constructive criticism over flames. ;o)

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A Spark in the Dark

3 Legolas: Watch

She is still sleeping. The look on her face is not as peaceful as one might expect, though. I almost believe to notice a little wrinkling of her forehead, a slight frown.

Is she dreaming?

If she is, I hope that her dreams are not too unpleasant. The state she and her horse were in when we found them led me to the assumption that they had fled from...something. And if I am right with this, then that something might still be chasing her in her sleep; at least I would not expect her dreams to be very joyful.

If only I knew what exactly happened before we came along...

But it is no use speculating; I will have to wait for her to wake up and tell me.

She has been sleeping all the way to Rivendell, and for some more hours in that bed she is now lying in. Fortunately, she bears no signs of any injuries, so obviously all she has to recover from is exhaustion and maybe shock.

My gaze strays from her sleeping form towards the open window beside the bed. The Sun is already setting, the soft touch of her rays bathing everything in shades of red and gold – a beautiful sight.

Right now, my companions are dining with the Master of this house, his family, and other guests. I however decided to stay here with the young woman; to watch over her in her sleep. But of course, I will not have to worry about going to sleep hungry; a tray laden with food and drink for both the girl and me has been brought earlier, now resting on the small table beside me, still untouched.

There are more than enough people dwelling at Lord Elrond's house who would have stayed with the young woman had I wanted to join the others at dinner, but I just could not leave her alone. We do not know for sure what has happened to her, and she will wake up in unfamiliar surroundings; if I am here when she awakes, then there will at least be a voice that she has heard before.

Yes, I think that my voice will probably be the only thing she will be able to recognise. In my opinion, there is no doubt that the girl is blind, since I have never seen eyes like hers before – unless with blind people.

A stare as cold as ice.

The recollection of that brief moment when her milky blue eyes were looking at me – or rather right through me, as it felt –, devoid of any spark of life, sends a shiver down my spine.

My gaze returns to the sleeping young woman.

She is blind, and yet she rides a horse.
A strange thought, is it not?
And stranger even taken into account that she was all on her own when we found her...

My musings are interrupted by a faint knock at the door. As I turn my head, the door slides open soundlessly, and a tall figure appears in the doorframe. It is not Caranhil returning from dinner, as I would have guessed...

I rise from the chair I've been sitting in to greet the man, my lips curving in a genuine smile. "Aragorn." I keep my voice low lest I wake the girl, and motion for the Noble Ranger to come in.

Aragorn throws a quick glance at the curled-up form in the bed and then walks over to me, returning the greeting with a short embrace before he speaks to me, "Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood. It is good to see you." He smiles as well, but the smile does not reach his eyes, which are clouded with worry.

A mirror image of my heart.

"As it is good to see you, Aragorn, son of Arathorn. If only the reason for our meeting were a more pleasant one."

The Ranger nods knowingly, letting his gaze once again wander over to the young woman. "So this is the girl your party found not far from here?"

"Aye, this is her." I do not take my eyes off Aragorn as I reply. "She is still sleeping, but I expect her to wake anytime soon."

"I hope she will." Again, Aragorn only manages to smile half-heartedly. Looking back at me, he adds, "And I am happy that she seems to be unscathed – unlike the other guest that is recovering under Lord Elrond's care."

He must be talking about the hobbit.

I frown. "I heard that he was struck by a Morgul-blade on his way to Rivendell, and that the council will have to wait until he has fully recovered. It seems like the hobbit's presence at the gathering is of major importance."

Once more, Aragorn nods. "It is, my friend. And you will learn of those things soon enough." After a short pause, he adds, "but let us not wake the young woman with our talking. I shall go and meet the others in the Hall of Fire anyway. Will you join us later?"

"Yes, I shall join you as soon as I am sure not to be needed here any more."

Aragorn gently grabs my shoulder for a brief moment, then the Ranger turns and leaves the room as silently as he had entered. My eyes follow him, and I keep watching the closed door for a second or two before I cross the room to stand by the open window.

Meanwhile, the Sun has hidden behind the mountaintops, but the Moon and stars have come out lest darkness spread across the valley like the shadow of Mordor gradually spreading all across Middle-earth.

We must not lose our hope that there will always be some light left to stand against the darkness, no matter how tiny a spark it may be...

I do not know for how long I have been standing by the open window, gazing up at the stars, when I notice a movement out of the corner of an eye. It is accompanied by the soft rustling of cloth. I turn towards the bed to find that the young woman in it is now lying flat on her back, empty blue eyes staring up at the ceiling.

She has finally woken!